Hungry Independents (Book 2) Read Free Page A

until daylight?”
    “Because I like to finish the tough jobs
     before the sun pops up. It still gets hotter than hell out in the
     fields by noontime. That’s when I go take a nap in the shade.”
    “I knew you didn’t work all day. Hunter’s
     convinced that Jimmy never took a break. I think it’s what drives
     him.”
    Samuel sucked on his tooth again. “Well,
     Hunter’s right. Jimmy was a workhorse. He never took naps. I’ve got
     three extra field hands doing the work that Jimmy used to do.”
    Molly leaned over and bumped him shoulder to
     shoulder. “You’re kidding?”
    “Not about Jimmy.” Samuel tied a blue
     bandanna around his head. “See, Hunter and I have a lot in common.
     We both had tremendously hard working brothers that accomplished a
     lot during their short lives. Greg led us here and Jimmy kept us
     fed.”
    Molly gazed at Samuel, seeing the hurt and
     pain in his eyes that he kept tightly shut off from everyone. His
     brother and his best friend were gone. Both of them lived in this
     house with him. Jimmy moved in the day Greg died. Now Samuel lived
     alone, refusing any new housemates.
    He broke eye contact and looked over the
     crops to the horizon. “Try living up to that.”
    The sound of shifting grass broke their
     conversation and Molly and Samuel stood up on the porch. A massive
     black dog lumbered out of the field next to the house. The creature
     shook its bulk and snorted, like allergies had gotten the better of
     it. Then four more giant dogs joined the first. Bright red eyes
     gleamed in the darkness, locking on Molly and Samuel. A deep growl
     rumbled from their chests and the leader padded forward, lowered
     its muzzle, and bared its teeth.
    “Get in the house,” Samuel whispered.
    Molly trembled. She told her stupid foot to
     step back, but the sight of those terrible beasts with their giant
     maws kept her feet planted on the porch steps. The leader moved
     closer and the other four widened their positions in case someone
     chose to run away from the house.
    “Molly, get into the freaking house,” Samuel
     said it louder this time.
    The lead dog barked and snapped at the air,
     showing them what it had in mind. Samuel reached over and retrieved
     a shovel leaning against the railing. He brought the long handle up
     and held the spade high. The metal glinted in the moonlight like a
     mystical sword created for putting down such trouble.
    The lead dog paused now that an actual threat
     had presented itself. The others continued closing the loop on long
     skinny legs with their skin stretched tight over protruding ribs.
     Their tails hung straight and low without swaying.
    Samuel stepped down in front of Molly. The
     leader leaned back on its haunches and barked another loud warning.
     The others stopped and watched for Samuel’s next move.
    “Molly, get in the house. I have your back.
     Slam the door shut when I come in behind you. Wait ’til I’m
     inside.”
    Molly liked the plan. She knew she should do
     exactly what Samuel instructed. Her mind was screaming at her, but
     her body refused.
    “Molly!”
    “I can’t, Samuel. I can’t.”
    “You have to!”
    The lead dog took another step. The other red
     eyes watched for what would happen next. Their rumbling chorus
     resumed.
    Samuel made a quick move off the porch steps
     onto the walkway and screamed a challenge. The dog slinked back a
     couple of feet. The others watched and waited. Samuel swung the
     spade back and forth, slicing through the air. The lead dog stayed
     out of range, baring its teeth and growling, saliva spilling from
     its mouth. Samuel screamed again and the dog rose to the challenge
     with a series of furious barks. The rest began to circle Samuel
     like they were separating him from the herd, but he caught on. He
     tripped backing up, and whacked his head on the bottom step.
    The shovel clattered on the walkway as the
     lead dog charged.

 
Four
Molly
     
    Finally, Molly snapped into